True story:
I have a friend who became convinced that owning a Sonic was the secret to his happiness. So, he tried to do a GoFundMe to raise the franchise fee that would open the door to his dream.
It didn't work (unsurprisingly).
However, it did make me curious about this fast-food chain with which I had no experience. So, one day while I was at nearby Franciscan I noticed the Sonic down here on Emerson and decided that I would stop. It took me several times to finally make this happen, yesterday being that time, and I can now write about the experience.
First off, um, what's the big deal?
It's fast food. It's obviously fast food. It's NOTHING like those retro experiences of carhops on roller skates or 50's drive-in experiences like still exist at Mel's Drive-In or The Suds or to a lesser degree Steer-In.
You either have a drive-thru or you can pull-up to one of their drive-in spots which surround the building. Since I wanted the true Sonic experience, I pulled into a drive-in spot. There's a button you push and you place your order. The order is then brought to you. There's a credit card machine where you order, but it didn't work. You can, of course, also pay with cash.
The food is then brought to you and you can eat it right there. It's kind of a weird feeling considering how close these drive-in spots are. However, it works.
Sonic has a breakfast menu and their traditional lunch/dinner menu. I was there in the early evening hours and opted for a classic crispy chicken sandwich with tots. I made it a combo and made that combo a large with my usual unsweetened iced tea.
The chicken sandwich was meh. It wasn't good. It wasn't bad. It was a functional chicken sandwich. I think part of it was presentation - it looked kind of pathetic. It tasted a little better than it looked.
The tots? They are wrapped in this container designed to keep them warm. I found them undercooked and was disappointed with order size considering I'd upsized it. I would not order the tots again.
The iced tea was fine. The cup size was generous and I like that they actually give you enough ice and that the styrofoam cup keeps that ice from easily melting. Sonic is known for its drink options and this was definitely the best part of the meal.
There was certainly nothing craveworthy here, though it also wasn't really appalling. I'd go back, but I wouldn't rush back and it's certainly not an experience I'd go out of my way for. If I return, I'll likely try a burger and I'd switch to fries to see if it's a better option. The pricing is actually fairly reasonable, a definite plus these days. However, for those seeking a real drive-in experience I'd definitely try something more like Steer-In or Mel's Drive-In as they're more authentic about it all.
Overall, this was a solid mid-range experience. I don't regret going, however, I won't be rushing back. The food was a solid, though unremarkable, fast food experience at a good price and if that's what I'm craving then I'd no doubt give it another chance if I'm in the area in the future. If I ever buy myself a franchise, however, I'll sure be working to give the experience more of the classic vibe and to hire folks who "get" what this experience could really be that would distinguish it from other fast food joints.
In terms of accessibility, given the fact that much of this is a drive-in or drive-thru experience, it can easily be tailored toward one's individual needs. They do also note that they have accessible ordering drive-in spots and that you can request assistance if needed. So, that's a plus. read more